Archived news items — 2010
VCE geography exam revision lecture 2010 DVD
DVDs of the presentation at The University of Melbourne on Saturday October 9, 2010 can be purchased using this order form.
Trial Examination Paper 2010
The GTAV is publishing a trial examination paper to support VCE Geography teachers in addressing the criteria for the examination as specified by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
The format is similar to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority paper. The colour A4 data booklet uses a variety of data – maps, graphs, photographs, tables and text extracts. A separate question booklet includes spaces for responses and base maps and table layouts. PLEASE NOTE that the trial examination papers are sold as sets of 15 colour data booklets* with a Question booklet included in the package as a blackline master format for schools to reproduce as required. A set of Guidelines for responses is provided.
Alec Lyne ... IAG Award Winner
The GTAV is pleased to announce that in 2010, Alec Lyne has been presented with the prestigious ‘Distinguished Fellowship’, awarded for distinguished service to Australian Geography by the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG).
The IAG is the principal body representing geographers and promoting the study and application of Geography in Australia. It was founded in 1958 and since then has promoted and supported Australian Geography. Fifty years ago, Alec was one of the founders of the GTAV and he was our first president (1959-1962). He taught secondary school Geography for over 40 years, predominantly at Scotch College. The ‘Distinguished Fellowship’ award is richly deserved by a man who has been dedicated to Geography for almost one hundred years!
New resources from the GTAV
New Perspectives Supplement
This supplementary booklet to the New Perspectives text book published by the GTAV includes new data and information on the two mandated topics for units 3 and 4 the Murray-Darling Basin and Human Population. Features include:
* new case studies
* updated data (including maps, graphs and statistics)
* new design
* full colour.
>> Download an order form
National Regional Profiles: The One Stop Shop for data about a geographic area
National Regional Profiles (NRP) available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics website provide ‘snapshots’ for over 2,000 regions across Australia. The profiles contain a range of data from both the ABS and other sources, for geographic areas such as Local Government Areas, Statistical Local Areas up to States and Territories. The data are presented for a number of years (2004-2008) where it is available, and therefore provides the opportunity to compare regions over time. The National Regional Profiles are found on the left hand navigation bar of the home page of the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au).
Supporting VCE Geography Teaching survey
We urgently require your feedback regarding the VCE topics for which new GTAV resource materials should be developed. Please complete a short survey to help us determine which VCE topics have the greatest need for new support materials.
>> Complete survey here
>> Complete survey here
Online community-based research project
Museum Victoria is developing a new online community based research project which we would like to trial with schools in 2011. They are hoping to hold an information session in two weeks time and are looking for interested Geography teachers.
How can geographers and local historians and museum curators collaborate to investigate the effect of natural disasters on communities? If you are a Geography teacher who would like to investigate the effects of natural disasters on a community – eg bushfire, locust plague, flood – with your class we would like to talk to you. Schools and teachers interested in participating in a pilot program are invited to email amuscat@museum.vic.gov.au with their contact details.
Validation of National Professional Standards for Teachers
The National Professional Standards for Teachers are designed to describe a continuum of capabilities and expectations appropriate to the Australian teaching profession at four levels; graduate, proficient, highly accomplished and lead teacher. The Standards will form the basis for accreditation of pre-service teacher education courses and teacher registration.
The Standards have been through a comprehensive consultation phase involving a series of stakeholder forums and extensive public comment. Validation of the Standards is now occurring and will help ensure that there is a nationally consistent basis for valid, fair and reliable identification and recognition of those teachers who meet the Standards.
Any interested teachers are invited to take part in an on-line survey which will be live until 29 October 2010. The survey is available on the SiMERR website: http://www.une.edu.au/simerr/standards. The online survey will take respondents about 30-45 minutes to complete.